Nadal, Sharapova cruise at French Open

Spanish world No. 1 Rafael Nadal, the defending champion, crushed American Robby Ginepri 60, 63, 60 in his debut Monday at the French Open.

“This a fantastic result to start out with, there were good things and bad things. I made it through the day, which was complicated with the weather, and it was important for me to finish today because this way I have two days of rest during which I can keep working on things,” Nadal, winner of a record eight French Open men’s singles titles, said.

Nadal, who turns 28 on June 3, needed just one hour and 42 minutes to beat Ginepri, a 31yearold ranked 279th in the world.

“When you win solidly, it’s always good. I had the initiative throughout the match, there was just a stretch in the second set where I did not do things right,” Nadal said.

Nadal played on Court Suzanne Lenglen, the second most prestigious court at Roland Garros, an unusual scheduling choice for the defending champion, who usually plays on Philippe Chatrier, the facility’s center court.

In other men’s action, Serbia’s Novak Djokovic beat Portugal’s Joao Sousa 61, 62, 64 in a match that was affected by the rains that hit Paris on Monday.

The world No. 2 had to contend with a 90minute rain delay on center court.

Djokovic criticized tournament officials after the match for the condition of the court and the slow response in covering it when the rain started to fall.

“The court was not in very good condition, and it’s hard to care for with all the rain that’s fallen the past few days, they do what they can, but they could have brought out the tarp sooner,” Djokovic said.

Slovakia’s Martin Klizan knocked off Japan’s Kei Nishikori, the No. 9 seed, 76 (74), 61, 62.

Nishikori continues to suffer from the back problems that forced him to retire in the final of the Madrid Masters, a match in which he was dominating Nadal.

France’s Benoit Paire defeated Colombia’s Alejandro Falla 63, 64, 76 (74), while Croatia’s Marin Cilic beat Spain’s Pablo Andujar 60, 63, 76 (86).

On the women’s side, Russia’s Maria Sharapova cruised into the second round with an easy 62, 61 win over countrywoman Ksenia Pervak.

Sharapova, the 2012 champion and last year’s finalist, needed just an hour to beat the 22yearold qualifier.

The 27yearold Sharapova’s next opponent will be Bulgaria’s Tsvetana Pironkova, who beat Germany’s Annika Beck 67 (57), 63, 62 on Sunday.

Argentina’s Paula Ormaechea beat Switzerland’s Romina Oprandi 75, 62, while Australia’s Samantha Stosur defeated Puerto Rico’s Monica Puig 61, 61.

The French Open is the second Grand Slam event of the tennis season and the only one played on clay.